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CO-OP NEWS
www.kvremc.com
CONTACT US Toll Free: 800-552-2622 Local: 219-733-2511
OFFICE HOURS 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Central Time Monday-Friday
STREET ADDRESS 8642 W. U.S. Highway 30 Wanatah, IN 46390
MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 157, Wanatah, IN 46390
EMERGENCY POWER OUTAGES Power outages can be reported by calling 800-552-2622 or through the SmartHub app.
KANKAKEE VALLEY REMC STAFF Scott Sears, Chief Executive Officer Alissa Tucker, Executive Assistant Angie Swanson, Office Manager Amanda Steeb, Communications and Marketing Director Dave Howell, Purchasing and Facilities Manager Scott Hanson, Director of Operations Bri Travis, Director of Engineering
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OFFICE CLOSINGS
Kankakee Valley REMC employees and directors wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The co-op office will be closed on Dec. 23, 26 and 30, and Jan. 2.
FROM THE CEO:
Why do we encourage energy efficiency?
Whether we’re talking about restaurants, car dealers, or department stores, most businesses work pretty hard at encouraging you to spend more. So why would the company selling you electricity instead keep talking about spending smarter?
Unlike businesses that focus on rewarding shareholders, Kankakee Valley REMC is a non-profit that exists solely to serve member-consumers like you. If we can help you make the most of your energy dollars by changing the way you do things, we’re happy. For example, we offer a rate option that can reward you for making wise energy choices.
Making changes around your home or office can help you spend smarter, too. For example, you can switch from old-style incandescent and fluorescent lights to today’s LED lamps, which use a small fraction of electricity to provide even more light. Caulking around your windows and doors can eliminate those sneaky drafts that make your heater and air-conditioner work harder.
We also offer programs through PowerShift that put money back in your wallet when you install a WiFi thermostat or take part in the co-op's load control program. The PowerShift program allows the co-op to make brief adjustments to your home’s temperature when demand is high. There are even more rebates available through the Power Moves program. Information about both is available on our website.
The best way to start spending smarter is to use your phone and give us a call! While there are many large-scale changes that you can make to your home to make it more energy efficient, you can also make small changes to your habits and save energy and money through the time-of-use rate option. Call us today and we will be happy to explain how simple changes in the way you use energy can reward you. Best of all, there’s no charge for our help!
SCOTT SEARS
Chief Executive Officer
Crews in the Community
In this section, we’ll tell you where our maintenance and construction crews will be and what they will be doing.
Substation Maintenance: To improve performance, reliability, and the growing electrical demand, preliminary work has begun to upgrade Porter Substation. This substation feeds part of Lakes of the Four Seasons and rural Hebron areas. The upgrades will include a larger capacity power transformer and reclosures.
Pole Maintenance: Our crews conduct regular pole inspections and replacements as part of our year-round maintenance. Member-consumers in the Kouts and Morgan Township areas will see crews performing tests on the poles. Pole replacements are occurring in the areas of Hebron, Winfield, southwest of Valparaiso, Washington Township in Porter County and Wanatah and LaCrosse areas in LaPorte Co.
AMI Meter Deployment: Meter technicians continue to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters throughout the system. When an employee visits your home, they will remove your existing meter and replace it with new equipment. The process may cause your electricity to blink.
System Inventory: Contractors with Global Mapping Solutions (GMS) will complete the system inventory project this month. This project has involved physically taking inventory of each pole, transformer, etc., on the system to update the mapping and system inventory.
OPERATION ROUND UP FUNDS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF
LAPORTE COUNTY received a $2,000 grant. Boys & Girls Clubs of LaPorte County offer free afterschool programming that supports academic success, character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. This grant will help support supply costs for two years of programming at the Westville Boys & Girls Club. The club anticipates serving 80 children in kindergarten through eighth grade during the school year.
OREGON-DAVIS PTA will be able to add new equipment to its three playgrounds at OregonDavis Elementary School with a $10,000 grant. With the support of the Oregon-Davis School administration, the PTA playground project will remove current equipment and replace it with appropriate play structures for all age groups.
THE VISITING NURSE ASSOCIATION OF PORTER
COUNTY received $10,000 for its VNA Meals on Wheels of Porter County program. This program provides nutritious home-delivered meals along with wellness checks to those in need. Last year alone, nearly 500 seniors throughout Porter County received a hot lunch and optional light supper, all geared toward each client’s particular health and dietary needs.
FOOD PANTRIES
As costs continue to climb, many families are turning to food pantries for help. The Operation Round Up board of directors continues its commitment to assist area food pantries. With the holidays approaching, the board committed a total of $7,500 to help local pantries purchase food for residents in need.
ARE YOU THE NEXT KV REMC Board Member?
Kankakee Valley REMC is not owned by far-away investors or an appointed board of directors. It is run by a democratically elected board that is given the privilege to serve its fellow co-op member-consumers, neighbors, and friends. If leading your co-op interests you, consider running for directorship in the 2023 election.
At the member appreciation day/ annual business meeting, taking place on June 15, 2023, we will be electing directors for District 4 and one of the at-large positions. To be eligible to run for directorship, member-consumers must reside in a township within one of the districts up for election. In addition, director candidates are required to meet certain qualifications. Director qualifications are available by contacting the KV REMCoffice. The following townships are included in each district up for election in 2023:
• District 4: Davis, Center, Oregon,
Washington and North Bend townships in Starke County and
Union and West townships in
Marshall County.
• The At-Large Position: Any area served by Kankakee Valley REMC.
Interested member-consumers will be required to attend a directorship meeting in late March, complete a petition requiring signatures from 15 member-consumers and consent to a background check. Director information packets will be available Jan. 9, 2023 online at kvremc.com or by calling the KV REMC office. Nominations for director positions will not be accepted at the annual meeting. Elected directors will each serve a three-year term.
If playing a significant role in leading your cooperative interests you, consider running in the 2023 board of director election.
Visit kvremc.com for more details.
WHY WE TRIM TREES — WHERE OUR CREWS ARE WORKING NOW
Tree trimming maintenance is a year-round program for KV REMC. Trimming back trees, especially during the winter months, decreases outages caused by fallen tree limbs during storms with high winds, heavy snow, and ice. A properly executed tree trimming program will provide our member-consumers with safe and reliable electricity.
Our contract crews are trimming in the following townships:
•Porter County-Union and Porter townships and all areas served in Lake County
•Starke County-Portions of Center, Davis,
Washington and Oregon townships
If you have any questions regarding the rightof-way maintenance program, please contact our office. We appreciate your cooperation.
ENTER TO WIN A BILL CREDIT!
Each month we ask three questions from the KV REMC articles.
DRAWING THREE WINNERS $75, $50, $25
Each month, one name will be drawn for each dollar amount. The winners will receive a bill credit on their next electric bill.
NOVEMBER WINNERS
Congratulations to: • $75: Joshua U., Valparaiso • $50: Cory N., Westville • $25: Ronald Z., Crown Point
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT CORNER ANSWERS IS THURSDAY, DEC. 15.
vWhich two positions will the KV REMC membership be electing directors for at the 2023 member appreciation day/annual business meeting? __________________ and ____________________.
HOW TO ENTER
Enter online by visiting kvremc.com/quizcorner or mail your answers to: KV REMC, Attn: Quiz Corner, P.O. Box 157, Wanatah, IN 46390
